one more after this. hope you like this. review?

-part three-

dance inside;

Jam-packed inside of Jake's smooth-running Rabbit, Alice blew out a breath. To be honest, the preteen was fairly surprised her big brother hadn't beaten her with a ten-foot pole and locked her in her bedroom for all eternity. For all his good points, Edward could be creepily overprotective. Lord help them all if he ever became a father.

"So." The bronze-haired boy made a show of clenching his fists. "Where did you hear about this high school party anyway?" He put extra emphasis on 'high school.' His little sister was, after all, only in middle school.

Alice Cullen rolled her dark eyes in perfect circles, then crossed her lithe arms over her chest. "We do go to the same school, you know." It was true - all the Cullen kids went to a K-to-12 school, with Emmett part of this year's graduating class. "And I have friends in high places."

"In other words," Bella surmised, "you've been listening in on your brother's phone conversations?"

Alice nodded vigorously.

Face meet palm. "That damn Jessica Stanley!"

Bella's high-arched eyebrows knitted. "Don't talk about Jess that way - she's still my friend, even if you loathe her."

"Yeah, well." Edward harrumphed. "That doesn't mean I have to like her. If someone," (eye-daggers at Miss Swan) "hadn't given her my unlisted number, she wouldn't have called to tell me about her stupid party."

Jacob, who was at the wheel, with Alice riding shotgun, listened to the conversation with pleasure. He was enjoying himself - these Forks kids were batshit crazy!

Tanya batted her coal-black lashes. "Ah," she said, folding her long-fingered hands behind her head. "This is the infamous Jessica you always rant about."

Looking embarrassed, he bowed his head. Hanks of hair fell in his face. "I do not always rant about her," Edward countered.

"I'm sure you don't." Tanya's words seemed to say 'Yeah, right.' The blonde was the most visibly relaxed of the motley crew. Her legs were elongated - stretched out, bare feet resting on the back of the driver's seat. She'd changed out of her "airport clothes" and now donned the tightest pair of jeans known to man and a cream-coloured silk halter top.

If Edward wasn't one hundred percent in love with his best friend, Bella, there would've been nothing to stop the drool from overflowing. Jacob, however, didn't seem to notice the blonde beauty in the slightest. He only had eyes for Bella and it was seriously disgusting. As far as Edward Cullen was concerned, that is.

"Oh, ooh!" Alice's manicured finger jumped to the frosted window. She turned to the driver, Jacob. "Hey, we're here. Pull in there."

He nodded and flipped the turn signal on. Jacob swiftly changed lanes, pulling up beside a simple, two-storey suburban house. The Stanleys'. It was larger than the bungalow Bella shared with her single father, police chief Charlie Swan, but smaller than the Cullens' extravagant mansion.

A couple teenagers were lingering about outside the house, but the odd little group rightly suspected the real party was inside. Judging by the lack of red plastic cups and puddles of barf, Edward was moderately alright with letting Alice attend. Besides, she could take care of herself. And, well, if she couldn't Edward had a mean right hook.

"I feel so weird being here," Jake whispered to Bella, wrapping his tanned arm around her shoulders.

"Why?" she questioned, tilting her chin to meet his gaze. It was surreal that he was there, with her then. Her Jake. She couldn't count on both hands how many sleepless nights they'd shared at camp, counting stars and guessing which counsellors were making out with each other. And yet, the two of them, Jake and Bells, had yet to kiss. She knew he wanted it, but she wasn't so sure about her own desires. Would being boyfriend and girlfriend ruin their friendship? She knew Jacob wouldn't try anything unless she said she wanted it.

Of course, there was always the alternative: their connection would be stronger than ever before.

Bella entwined her hand with his own. She beamed up at him, her personal sun.

His answer came out slowly, in a huff of breath. "I don't know anyone here."

"You know me, isn't that enough?" she teased playfully.

Rather than the easy, open grin she expected, his full lips puckered. Eyes darkening, he admitted, in all seriousness, "Of course it is."

Trying to keep the mood light, she smiled toothily. "Then let's go in."

Jess' house was predictably crowded. Their was no alcohol and the only person puffing on a Marlboro was Jess' WASP of a mother. Everyone was sporting semi-formal attire, so only Tanya and Alice were appropriately dressed.

Jake quickly produced an unbuttoned suit jacket, black. He slid his arms in. Meeting the questioning gazes of the group, he shrugged and explained: "For emergencies."

Jessica had a sister who was Alice's age. Sophie Stanley greeted Edward's sister at the door with a girlie hug. She could've been Jess' identical twin - minus, of course, the C-cups that the elder sister was (in)famous for. They both had dark blond hair, natural tans, and petite, slight frames. Even still, the Stanley girl practically towered over Alice.

"C'mon, Ali," Sophie whined, pulling Alice by her thin, charm bracelet-wearing wrist. "All our friends are upstairs."

Alice gave Edward a 'What can you do?' look and dutifully followed her friend up the wooden staircase.

The remaining teenagers, Tanya, Edward, Bella, and Jacob, exchanged identical wary glances before Jessica Stanley materialized in front of them. Her hair was expertly curled and pulled into an elaborate updo. She was sporting a cotton candy pink dress, knee-length, that showed off her enviable gams as well as her (totallynotreal) enhanced cleavage.

She had even gone as far as to fit a plastic tiara amongst her curls. "So glad you guys could come to my birthday party!" she enthused, sweeping Bella into a half-hug.

Jess twirled around in her pink tulle dress, giggling, to show Bella her dress. Even if she was as shallow, vain, and superficial as could be, Jess was a nice friend to have. She was loyal to no end and always good for when Bella needed a dress for that year's athlete's dinner.

"Oh." Jess stopped mid-twirl and looked up at Jacob (seductively?) through her long, fake lashes. "You brought a friend?"

Protectively, Bella locked her arm around his broad shoulders. "Yep. Jessica Stanley, meet Jacob Black. Jake, meet Jessica."

"Pleasure to meet you," he mumbled, sarcasm evident, but didn't instigate a handshake.

She bit down on her lip. (Flirtatiously?) "No, really." She took a step forward in her three-inch peep-toe pumps. "The pleasure is all mine."

"Uh, I'm gonna go get some punch or something," Jacob stated. Bella raised her eyebrows at him, but dropped her arm.

"Don't worry." Jess squared her shoulders, obviously trying to bring his eyes down to her chest. "I'll get it for you." When she turned and walked away, butt out and hips swinging, Jacob turned to Bella.

"Who would have thought there were crazier people in Forks, Washington than Bella Swan?"

She swatted his arm.

"Now, can we get out of here before your friend in pink comes back and starts grinding on me?" Jacob inquired, worry colouring his face.

"Sounds like a plan." Bella momentarily directed her attention to Edward and Tanya, hitching a thumb over her shoulder. "Jake and I are going to check out the backyard, either of you want to come?"

They shook their heads 'no' in unison. With matching shy smiles, Bella and Jacob excused themselves from the small group, leaving Tanya and Edward alone. Edward faked a smile and pretended that his face didn't burn with jealousy when Bella threw her head back in laughter - at something that vermin had said.

"And then there were two," Edward thought, running his hand through his messy tangles of hair. He awkwardly looped his thin pianist's fingers through the belt loops on his dress pants, rocking back and forth. It was not lost on him how Tanya's piercing eyes followed his every idle movement. Could it be...? Was she...in love with him?

"Is that a problem?" Tanya inquired, shaking her shiny tresses off her back.

Looking befuddled, Edward prayed to whatever Gods were watching down on him that he hadn't just wondered aloud if Tanya, who was practically his sister or cousin, was in love with him.

"What?" he managed to squawk out.

"That there's only the two of us left," she filled in, swishing around the clear liquid in the cup she held. (When had that gotten there?)

"Uh, no." He tried to smile. Really tried. Instead, he felt a bead of sweat growing and expanding at his hairline. "Not at all."

"Good." Tanya placed her hands on her curvy hips, then reconsidered - she pulled Edward's hands to her hips. "'Cause I feel like dancing."